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StreetGames: Safe, Fit and Well –
Case Studies
Brunel University London
September 2018
Dr Alistair John
Professor Louise Mansfield
Brunel Sport, Health and Wellbeing Research
Group (B-SHaW) Welfare, Health and Wellbeing Theme:
Institute of Environment, Health and Societies
Brunel University London
Institute of Environment, Health and
Societies
Individual Case Studies
StreetGames Case Study
Brentwood Fitness In MindTM
Enhancing Young People’s Mental Health
and Wellbeing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep
sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health
and wellbeing in the communities in which they
live. Organisational knowledge exchange, workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support were key features of the
programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project leaders and
participants of Brentwood Fitness In Mind.
Brentwood Fitness In Mind, delivered at the
Brentwood Leisure Centre, aims to improve
mental, physical and social wellbeing through the
promotion of physical activity.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Local authorities, and those that deliver their
service in partnership with local authorities, play a
significant role in the delivery of community sport
for young people from disadvantaged areas
through their strategies for leisure provision and
health and wellbeing services. The sport coach
workforce represents a community asset in the
design and delivery of sport for mental health and
wellbeing. Their knowledge and skill and their
direct involvement with communities living in
disadvantage makes them well placed to reach
young people and engage them in sporting activity
to protect and improve their mental health.
Brentwood Fitness In Mind expert sports
practitioners tailored the sporting offer to the
needs of young people facing mental health issues.
Close working relationships ensured that sports
coaches and peer support workers understood the
relationships between young people’s mental
health and their lifestyle behaviours. Successfully
engaging these young people in sporting activity
involved delivering sports selected by young
people themselves, offering one-one support
where required and taking consideration of the
barriers of time, cost and access to facilities.
A range of sport and organised exercise were on
offer including boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA),
circuit training, yoga, pilates, tai-chi, basketball,
netball, badminton, tennis, table tennis and gym-
based fitness sessions.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport and organised exercise was promoted by
Brentwood Fitness In Mind as a way to build
confidence, encourage social interaction and
increase communication skills for those taking
part. In addition, sport was considered to be a site
for engaging young people in open discussions
about mental health and wellbeing in order to
signpost to support services or education and
employment opportunities. Framed in this way,
sport was seen by project leaders and participants
to have potential in reducing depression, anxiety
and stress in young people from disadvantaged
areas.
How participants responded to the
project
Participants completed ‘Have Your Say’ postcards
allowing them to identify what they most enjoyed
and provide suggestions for future programme
development. Participants enjoyed “meeting new
people”, the “opportunity to try lots of different
activities”, “getting healthy”, “feeling included as
opposed to trying to access open classes –
daunting” and the “support from team leaders and
peer support”. Participants felt that “more
classes”, “more opportunities for peer support”
and “better marketing and promotion from NHS
services (e.g. GP’s)” would improve their
experience and help develop the programme.
WEMWBS was used to measure positive change in
wellbeing. The graph above illustrates the results
of 24 participants with the follow-up
measurement taken 11 weeks after a baseline
measurement. Results indicate that participants’
wellbeing improved over the 11 week period of
the project; with those participants recording high
wellbeing increasing to 18 percent from 13
percent and 32 participants recording low
wellbeing at the follow-up, from 43 percent at
baseline.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. The project lead recognised the
importance of mental health and wellbeing
training for frontline delivery staff to identify and
support mental health and low wellbeing.
Brentwood Fitness In Mind Staff had already
received mental health training but used
StreetGames’ multi-sport activator training to
upskill staff in their delivery of sport to young
people with mental health or wellbeing issues.
The development of qualified experts in MHFA and
sport delivery supported the wider impact of the
work of project leaders in developing the
education and skills of participants to enable them
to be more prepared for seeking and gaining
employment.
Peer-to Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
college peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
Through the StreetGames programme, a small
group of Brentwood Fitness In Mind peer support
workers attended a four-day residential at Brathay
Hall in the Lake District where they were awarded
the Royal Society for Public Health Level 2 Young
Health Champions qualification. The accredited
qualification was significant for the development
of the peer-to-peer learning structure of the
project.
The peer support offered by Brentwood Fitness In
Mind peer support workers is based on
experience, skill and knowledge for those facing
mental health and wellbeing issues and can play a
role in raising awareness about and destigmatising
mental health.
Networks and Partnerships
The StreetGames programmes demonstrated the
importance of being able to operate within a wider
network of partners for funding and referral
support. The Brentwood Fitness In Mind team
engaged in a StreetGames facilitated Action
Learning Set which provided the opportunity for
projects to develop a community of practice by
sharing experiences, discussing challenges and
potential solutions as well as setting standards and
good practice in programme design, delivery and
evaluation of sport for mental health and
wellbeing.
Brentwood Fitness In Mind is partnered with the
Brentwood Leisure Centre and has received
funding from Sport England. Brentwood Fitness In
Mind is often involved in consultation work with
MIND England, NHS England, local NHS services
and Public Health England where Brentwood
Fitness In Mind offer advice on mental health and
wellbeing within the sports and leisure industry.
Contact Details
Wayne Banks, Fitness In Mind [email protected]
42.6 31.8
44.750
12.8 18.2
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Baseline Follow-up
Brentwood Fitness In Mind WEMWBS
% Low wellbeing% Moderate wellbeing% High wellbeing
StreetGames Case Study
Chapter 1 and the Salvation Army Housing Association
Enhancing Young People’s Mental Health
and Wellbeing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep
sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health
and wellbeing in the communities in which they
live. Organisational knowledge exchange, workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support were key features of the
programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project lead and participants at
one pilot project; Chapter 1 and Salvation Army
Housing Association (SAHA) located in Salford.
Chapter 1 and SAHA aimed to improve the mental
health and wellbeing of SAHA residents through
the delivery of regular gym-based physical activity
and pop-up sport (e.g. archery) as well as
providing an opportunity for homeless clients to
attend a nutrition and wellbeing education
programme in combination with organised
physical activity (e.g. a running club) to develop
key employability skills such as discipline, time-
management, and group interaction.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Charities play a significant role in meeting the
financial and delivery challenges faced in public
health by providing expert healthcare, conducting
research, raising awareness, supporting clients,
and promoting mental health and wellbeing
organisations. As trusted independent
organisations, charities occupy a key position at
the heart of their communities and are well placed
to reach young people and engage them in sport
activity.
Chapter 1 and the SAHA engaged with clients of
the SAHA who were already on-site; using two
gyms located at their supported accommodation
to deliver physical activity. A homeless football
league - organised and run by the Chapter 1 and
SAHA project lead - also served as a potent tool for
recruitment of a population which had indicated
sport as an appealing activity to be engaged in.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport has been identified as having the potential
for developing employability skills and inspiring
young people to achieve their potential. Sport
development experts working at Chapter 1 and the
SAHA viewed sport as important for building
resilience, improving self-esteem, learning skills to
be more independent, offering a counter activity
to anti-social behaviours and providing
opportunities for personal education and the
development of employability skills.
Sport was also identified by the project lead as a
unique space for young people to discuss their
mental health and wellbeing.
How participants responded to the
project
Participants completed ‘Have Your Say’ postcards
allowing them to identify what they most enjoyed
and provide suggestions for future programme
development. Participants enjoyed opportunities
for “training” and doing “archery” and cited the
programme as positive because “it gets me
motivated” and “it inspires me to keep fit”. One
participant felt that some “simple activities for
those … who are averse to traditional exercise”
would have improved their experience while the
others to complete the ‘Have Your Say’ postcard
did not suggest any improvements.
WEMWBS was used to measure positive change in
wellbeing. The graph below illustrates the results
of 51 participants with the follow-up
measurement taken 8 weeks after a baseline
measurement.
Results indicate that participants’ wellbeing
improved over the 8 week period of the project;
with those participants recording high wellbeing
increasing to 54 percent from 25 percent and 9
percent of participants recording low wellbeing at
the follow-up, from 33 percent at baseline.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
qualification was specifically highlighted as
providing staff with knowledge, skills and
confidence to deliver sports sessions to young
people with mental health and wellbeing issues. In
addition, the development of qualified experts in
MHFA supported the design and development of
sports activities and opportunities for participants
in the projects.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support
Informal processes of peer-to-peer learning and
support were evident. Opportunities for young
people to volunteer and develop their leadership
roles in the work of charity partners led to more
formal knowledge exchange with other peers at a
range of events. The provision of informal
opportunities for peers to discuss mental health
through their participation in sport represented
informal opportunities for peer-to-peer support
and learning.
Networks and Partnerships
The StreetGames programmes demonstrated the
importance of being able to operate within a wider
network of partners for supporting students and
enhancing their mental health and wellbeing
through sport and physical activity. Chapter 1 and
the SAHA engaged in a StreetGames facilitated
Action Learning Set which provided the
opportunity for projects to develop a community
of practice by sharing experiences, discussing
challenges and potential solutions as well as
setting standards and good practice in programme
design, delivery and evaluation of sport for mental
health and wellbeing. Chapter 1 and SAHA
partnered with other housing charities, Not in
Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
organisations, local NHS services and job
recruitment services.
339
42
37
25
54
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Baseline Follow-up
Chapter 1/SAHA WEMWBS
% Low wellbeing
% Moderate wellbeing
% High wellbeing
StreetGames Case Study
Pat Benson Boxing Academy (Birmingham)
Enhancing Young People’s Mental Health
and Wellbeing through Boxing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep
sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health
and wellbeing in the communities in which they
live. Organisational knowledge exchange,
workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support were key features of the
programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project leader, sport deliverers
and participants of a community boxing club. Pat
Benson Boxing Academy (PBBA) in Birmingham
deliver boxing to enhance young peoples’ mental
health through a dedicated MindFit programme. In
partnership with Birmingham’s Youth Offending
Team, the MindFit programme targeted young
people who have committed minor
misdemeanours and/or are ‘at risk’ of receiving a
criminal record or being sentenced to a juvenile
facility.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Boxing, targeted to hard-to-reach young people
facing social isolation, opportunities for criminal
behaviour, few positive role models and living in
disadvantaged areas has been found to provide a
physical and educational environment for
changing behaviour, improving self-esteem and
building resilience. Boxing coaches at Pat Benson
Boxing Academy have developed the knowledge,
skill and experience to reach young people
experiencing mental health issues and engage
them in boxing to enhance their mental health and
wellbeing.
Boxing for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport, tailored to enhancing mental health and
wellbeing is being recognised as important in
supporting young people in disadvantaged areas.
The MindFit programme, which included regular
weekly sessions of instruction, provided a sense of
meaning and belonging for the young people in
their communities. The opportunity for develop
boxing skills is coupled with increasing confidence,
improved communication and leadership skills,
and anger management. Combining sport skill
development with a sport governing body
qualification provided the young people with a
sense of achievement.
How participants responded to the
project
Participants completed ‘Have Your Say’ postcards
allowing them to identify what they most enjoyed
and provide suggestions for future programme
development. Participants enjoyed the “circuit
training”, “meeting new people” and felt that the
programme “builds confidence” and “helps with
discipline”. Participants felt that “new equipment”
and “more sessions” would improve the
programme.
WEMWBS was used to measure positive change in
wellbeing. The graph above illustrates the results
of 24 participants with the follow-up
measurement taken 16 weeks after the baseline
4 0
46
25
5075
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Baseline Follow-up
PBBA WEMWBS
% Low wellbeing% Moderate wellbeing% High wellbeing
measurement. Results indicate that participants’
wellbeing improved over the 16 week period of
the project; with those participants recording high
wellbeing increasing to 75 percent from 50
percent and zero participants recording low
wellbeing at the follow-up, from 4 percent at
baseline. The mean wellbeing score change
improved significantly (3.88) from baseline (58.5 ±
8.4) to follow-up (62 ± 7.0) (Wilcoxon signed-rank
test, p < 0.001).
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact through community sport clubs.
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) qualification
was specifically highlighted by the PBBA project
lead as a way of providing staff with knowledge,
skills and confidence to deliver boxing sessions to
young people with mental health and wellbeing
issues. In addition, the development of qualified
experts in MHFA supported partnership work
between PBBA and local Young Offending Service
professionals. The Young Offending service were
able to make referrals into PBBA, avoiding referral
into youth offending facilities.
Peer-to Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
PBBA has the capacity to dedicate their skills,
knowledge and time to supporting young people
with mental health issues. Peer-to-peer support
was formalised in this pilot project through a
boxing club Youth Council to give young people a
voice and as a vehicle to develop leadership and
support skills for young peer mentors.
Networks and Partnerships
The Safe, Fit and Well programmes demonstrated
the importance of being able to operate within a
wider network of partners for funding and referral
support. PBBA engaged in a StreetGames
facilitated Action Learning Set which provided the
opportunity for projects to develop a community
of practice by sharing experiences, discussing
challenges and potential solutions as well as
setting standards and good practice in programme
design, delivery and evaluation of sport for mental
health and wellbeing.
In order to establish MindFit, PBBA consulted with
Sport Birmingham, England Boxing, Birmingham
Wellbeing Service (council) and MIND England.
PBBA has built a referral pathway with key
organisations, including a local school and
Birmingham’s Youth Offending Service and has
worked with the boxing charity ‘Fight for Peace’
who offered management consultancy for
establishing MindFit.
Contact Details
Paddy Benson, Pat Benson Boxing [email protected]
StreetGames Case Study
Positive Futures (Wirral Sports Development Unit)
Enhancing Young People’s Mental Health
and Wellbeing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep
sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health
and wellbeing in the communities in which they
live. Organisational knowledge exchange, workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support were key features of the
programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project leader, a partner
organisation and participants of Positive Futures’
Wellness Programme (managed by the Wirral
Sports Development Unit). Positive Futures is a
social inclusion programme which engages with
disadvantaged young people from the Wirral area
that have offended, are at risk of offending or have
substance misuse issues.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Local authorities play a significant role in the
delivery of community sport for young people
from disadvantaged areas through their strategies
for leisure provision and health and wellbeing
services. The sport coach workforce represents a
community asset in the design and delivery of
sport for mental health and wellbeing. Their
knowledge and skill and their direct involvement
with communities living in disadvantage makes
them well placed to reach young people and
engage them in sporting activity to protect and
improve their mental health.
Positive Futures’ expert sports practitioners
tailored the sporting offer to the needs of young
people facing mental health issues. Close working
relationships ensured that sports coaches
understood the relationships between young
people’s mental health and their lifestyle
behaviours. Successfully engaging these young
people in sporting activity involved delivering
sports selected by young people themselves,
offering one-one support where required and
taking consideration of the barriers of time, cost
and access to facilities.
A range of sport and organised exercise were on
offer in an ‘inclusive’ programme which included
football, cycling, boxing, boxercise, golf, foot-golf,
circuit training, aerobics, pilates, yoga and
swimming. In addition, to an inclusive sport offer
at local leisure facilities, a bespoke fitness training
programme and free gym access to a local leisure
centre was offered to those youth referred from a
range of agencies including crime, education and
mental health services.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport and organised exercise was promoted by
Positive Futures as a way to develop self-control,
change behaviour, build confidence, encourage
social interaction and increase communication
skills for those taking part. In addition, sport was
considered to be a site for engaging young people
in open discussions about mental health and
wellbeing in order to signpost to support services
or education and employment opportunities.
Framed in this way, sport was seen by leaders,
partners, and participants to have potential in
reducing social exclusion, anti-social behaviour,
depression, anxiety and stress in young people
from disadvantaged areas.
How participants responded to the
project
Participants completed ‘Have Your Say’ postcards
allowing them to identify what they most enjoyed
and provide suggestions for future programme
development. Participants enjoyed opportunities
to “socialise”, “meet new people” and “play footy”
and cited a “good atmosphere” which “built
confidence”. Participants felt that having sport
“twice a week” and on “bigger pitches” with
“more participants” would have improved their
experience.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. The project lead recognised the
importance of mental health and wellbeing
training for frontline delivery staff to identify and
support mental health and low wellbeing. Mental
Health First Aid (MHFA) was specifically
highlighted as a course which had given Positive
Futures’ coaches the knowledge, skills and
confidence to deliver sports sessions to young
people with mental health and wellbeing issues.
In addition, the development of qualified experts
in MHFA supported the wider impact of the work
of project leaders in developing the education and
skills of participants to enable them to be more
prepared for seeking and gaining employment.
Peer-to Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
college peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
Through the StreetGames programme, a small
group of Positive Futures young volunteers
attended a four-day residential at Brathay Hall in
the Lake District where they were awarded the
Royal Society for Public Health Level 2 Young
Health Champions qualification. The accredited
qualification was significant for the development
of the peer-to-peer learning structure of the
project.
The Positive Futures young volunteers had the
opportunity to deliver sessions to other young
people. This provided them with their own
opportunities for improving self-esteem through
‘giving back’ to the community as well as
developing employability skills. The young
volunteers offer peer support based on
experience, skill and knowledge for those facing
mental health and wellbeing issues and played a
role in raising awareness about and destigmatising
mental health.
Networks and Partnerships
The StreetGames programmes demonstrated the
importance of being able to operate within a wider
network of partners for funding and referral
support. The Positive Futures team engaged in a
StreetGames facilitated Action Learning Set which
provided the opportunity for projects to develop a
community of practice by sharing experiences,
discussing challenges and potential solutions as
well as setting standards and good practice in
programme design, delivery and evaluation of
sport for mental health and wellbeing.
Young people are referred to Positive Futures from
a range of agencies including Response (substance
misuse), Youth Offending Service, Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Positive Futures also maintains close links to the
Fire Service and Police & Crime Commissioner for
funding and advice. Positive Futures also received
funding from the Merseyside Sports partnership.
Contact Details
Colin Hunt, Wirral Positive Futures [email protected]
StreetGames Case Study
Tyne Metropolitan College (Newcastle)
Enriching the student experience through
sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep
sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health
and wellbeing in the communities in which they
live. Organisational knowledge exchange, workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support were key features of the
programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project lead and participants at
one pilot project; Tyne Metropolitan College (Tyne
Met). Tyne Met’s programme, delivered by the
Sports Development Team, used sport to improve
the mental health and wellbeing of Tyne Met
students to enrich their experience in the further
education setting.
Reaching & Engaging Students
Reports by the Association of Colleges (2015) and
the NUS (2017) indicated rising numbers of mental
health issues amongst students in further
education. Sport is recognised for its potential to
improve low-levels of mental health and wellbeing
by acting as a stress relief and reducing depression
and anxiety.
Tyne Met engaged students through an
established counselling system and identified
specific cohorts of students that could potentially
benefit from a physical activity programme for
mental health and wellbeing improvement and
created a programme, which operated during the
teaching day, for these students. A range of
physical activities were on offer including boccia,
dodgeball, boxing, football, running, volleyball,
basketball, boxercise, clubbercise, and gym-based
fitness classes or access to weights facilities.
Active Learning for Mental Health and
Wellbeing
Taking part in physical activity, the students were
able to reflect on and learn to develop a sense of
wellbeing. Central to the success of the project
was addressing the barriers associated with help-
seeking; notably the stigma of mental health and
some negative perceptions of traditional
competitive sport.
Mental health stigma can serve as a barrier for
some students to engage in traditional counselling
services. The gym was viewed as a place free of
stigma to improve physical and mental health.
Free gym passes and weekly one-to-one fitness
sessions were offered to individuals that were
identified as more likely to engage in physical
activity than mental health counselling.
For some students the term ‘sport’ presents a
negative image of high skill and intense
competition. Exercise or physical activity or dance,
movement and activity are more likely to create a
positive perception of the activities on offer.
Females were specifically identified as viewing
sport negatively. Female-only ‘wellbeing’
programmes that blended non-competitive
physical activity with classroom-based activities
involving discussions on wellbeing and healthy
living were identified as important for this group.
Engagement in sport and physical activity enabled
participants to build confidence, teamwork,
communication, independence and academic
retention. Framed in this way, sport was seen by
leaders and participants to have potential in
reducing depression, anxiety and stress in students
and for encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
How participants responded to the
project
Participants completed ‘Have Your Say’ postcards
allowing them to identify what they most enjoyed
and provide suggestions for future programme
development. Participants enjoyed opportunities
to “access the gym”, the variety of sports on offer
including “running”, “dodgeball” and “playing
killer” and, the “challenge” associated with
physical activity and sport. Participants felt that
more “fast paced” and “team-based” activities
would have improved their experience and cited
the use of “music” as an additional development
suggestion.
WEMWBS was used to measure positive change in
wellbeing. The graph below illustrates the results
of 19 participants with the follow-up
measurement taken 12 weeks after a baseline
measurement.
Results indicate that participants’ wellbeing
improved over the 12 week period of the project;
with those participants recording high wellbeing
increasing to 74 percent from 11 percent and zero
participants recording low wellbeing at the follow-
up, from 26 percent at baseline. The mean
wellbeing score change improved significantly
(13.21) from baseline (48.2 ± 8.7) to follow-up (61
± 7.0) (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.001).
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
qualification was specifically highlighted as
providing staff – including three young apprentices
- with knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver
sports sessions to young people with mental
health and wellbeing issues. In addition, the
development of qualified experts in MHFA enabled
a stronger connection to college counselling
service and appropriate referrals of young people
onto the ‘sports’ programmes.
Peer-to Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
college peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
Through the StreetGames programme, a small
group of Tyne Met students attended a four-day
residential at Brathay Hall in the Lake District
where they were awarded the Royal Society for
Public Health Level 2 Young Health Champions
qualification. The accredited qualification was
significant for the future development of a peer-
to-peer learning approach and for the
development of personal and professional skills of
young peer leaders.
When young health champions are established in
further education contexts they are able to offer
peer support to participants on sport for mental
health and wellbeing programmes. They do this by
building a rapport with other young people,
supporting their needs, taking part in and
delivering sport and physical activity sessions and
signposting to other support services.
Networks and Partnerships
The StreetGames programmes demonstrated the
importance of being able to operate within a wider
network of partners for supporting students and
enhancing their mental health and wellbeing
260
63
26
11
74
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Baseline Follow-up
Tyne Met WEMWBS
% Low wellbeing% Moderate wellbeing% High wellbeing
through sport and physical activity. The Tyne Met
Sports Development Team engaged in a
StreetGames facilitated Action Learning Set which
provided the opportunity for projects to develop a
community of practice by sharing experiences,
discussing challenges and potential solutions as
well as setting standards and good practice in
programme design, delivery and evaluation of
sport for mental health and wellbeing. The Tyne
Met Sports Development team receives funding
from Sport England and works in partnership with
the College counselling service and pastoral tutors.
In addition, Tyne Met is a signatory on the Sport
and Recreation Alliance Mental Health Charter.
Contact Details
Craig Robson [email protected]
StreetGames Case Study
Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation
Enhancing Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health and
wellbeing in the communities in which they live. Organisational knowledge exchange, workforce mental health
training and peer-peer learning and support were key features of the programme.
This case study draws on interviews with the project lead and a sport deliverer at the Warrington Wolves
Charitable Foundation. Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation emphasise developing emotional wellbeing
as being an important facet of a healthy lifestyle and aim to use sport to increase the awareness of mental
health and wellbeing as an approach to destigmatise mental health and teach coping strategies to young
people with mental health or wellbeing issues.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Charities play a significant role in meeting the financial and delivery challenges faced in public health by
providing expert healthcare, conducting research, raising awareness, supporting clients, and promoting mental
health and wellbeing organisations. As trusted independent organisations, charities occupy a key position at
the heart of their communities and are well placed to reach young people and engage them in sport activity.
Warrington Wolves used the ‘power of the badge,’ their association with a professional rugby league club, to
engage with young people. In partnership with a local FE college and State of Mind (a mental health charity),
Warrington Wolves facilitated the delivery of weekly one-hour sessions to young people from a disadvantaged
area.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport has been identified as having the potential for developing employability skills and inspiring young people
to achieve their potential. Warrington Wolves experts working in the charity sector viewed sport as important
for building resilience, improving self-esteem, learning skills to be more independent, offering a counter
activity to anti-social behaviours and providing opportunities for personal education and the development of
employability skills.
Sport was also identified by the project leads as a unique space for young people to discuss their mental health
and wellbeing.
How participants responded to the project
WEMWBS was used to measure positive change in wellbeing. The graph below illustrates the results of 211
participants with the follow-up measurement taken 13-17 weeks after the baseline measurement.
Results indicate that participants’ wellbeing improved over the period of the project; with those participants
recording high wellbeing increasing to 48 percent from 14 percent. The mean wellbeing score change
improved significantly (4.62) from baselines (49.6) to follow-up (54) (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.001).
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and knowledge exchange is significant in delivering successful sport
activities for mental health and wellbeing impact. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) qualification was specifically
highlighted as providing staff with knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver sports sessions to young people
with mental health and wellbeing issues. In addition, the development of qualified experts in MHFA supported
the design and development of sports activities and opportunities for participants in the projects.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support
Informal processes of peer-to-peer learning and support were evident in the Warrington Wolves programme.
Opportunities for young people to volunteer and develop their leadership roles in the work of charity partners
led to more formal knowledge exchange with other peers at a range of events. The provision of informal
opportunities for peers to discuss mental health through their participation in sport represented informal
opportunities for peer-to-peer support and learning.
Networks and Partnerships
The StreetGames programmes demonstrated the importance of being able to operate within a wider network
of partners for supporting students and enhancing their mental health and wellbeing through sport and
physical activity. Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation engaged in a StreetGames facilitated Action
Learning Set which provided the opportunity for projects to develop a community of practice by sharing
experiences, discussing challenges and potential solutions as well as setting standards and good practice in
programme design, delivery and evaluation of sport for mental health and wellbeing. Warrington Wolves
partnered with a local FE College and ‘State of Mind’ charity to deliver the mental health and wellbeing
workshops to young people.
Contact Details
19 14
67
38
14
48
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Baseline Follow-up
Warrington Wolves WEMWBS
% Low wellbeing
% Moderate wellbeing
% High wellbeing
StreetGames Case Study
Active Body, Active Mind (Leeds City College)
Enriching the student experience through
sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The StreetGames pilot projects delivered doorstep
sport to enhance young peoples’ mental health
and wellbeing in the communities in which they
live. Organisational knowledge exchange, workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support were key features of the
programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project lead and participants at
one pilot project; Active Body, Active Mind (Leeds
City College). Active Body, Active Mind, a
programme delivered by the Get Active Team,
uses sport to improve the mental health and
wellbeing of Leeds City College students and to
enrich their experience in the further education
setting.
Reaching & Engaging Students
Reports by the Association of Colleges (2015) and
the NUS (2017) indicated rising numbers of mental
health issues amongst students in further
education. Sport is recognised for its potential to
improve low-levels of mental health and wellbeing
by acting as a stress relief and reducing depression
and anxiety.
Leeds City College engaged students through an
established counselling system. Trained
counsellors identified and supported students that
may benefit from physical activity and social
interaction. Students were referred to an Active
Body, Active Mind mentor who developed a
tailored physical activity and wellbeing programme
for the student. A range of physical activities were
on offer including boxing, boccia, yoga, table-
tennis, self-defence and gym-based fitness classes
or access to weights facilities.
Active Learning for Mental Health and
Wellbeing
Taking part in physical activity, students were able
to reflect on and learn to develop a sense of
wellbeing. A peer-to peer approach involving one-
to-one interaction with an Active Body, Active
Mind Ambassador was central to the success of
the project. Tailoring the physical activities
programme to the student’s needs and wants was
a key ingredient to enhancing wellbeing and
mental health.
Engagement in sport and physical activity enabled
participants to build confidence, teamwork,
communication and independence. Framed in this
way, sport was seen by leaders and participants to
have potential to enhance health and wellbeing by
reducing depression, anxiety and stress in students
and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
How participants responded to the
project
Participants completed ‘Have Your Say’ postcards
allowing them to identify what they most enjoyed
and provided suggestions for future programme
development. The participants enjoyed
opportunities for “improving fitness”, “driving”
and “meeting new people”. The participants felt
that the programmed could be improved with
more “variety of activities”, being able to “choose
enrichments lessons” and access to better
equipment.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
qualification was specifically highlighted as
providing staff with knowledge, skills and
confidence to deliver sports sessions to young
people with mental health and wellbeing issues. In
addition, the development of qualified experts in
MHFA enabled a stronger connection to college
counselling service and appropriate referrals of
young people onto the ‘sports’ programmes.
Peer-to Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
college peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
Through the StreetGames programme, a small
group of Active Body, Active Mind Ambassadors
attended a four-day residential at Brathay Hall in
the Lake District where they were awarded the
Royal Society for Public Health Level 2 Young
Health Champions qualification. The accredited
qualification was significant for the development
of the peer-to-peer learning approach and for the
development of personal and professional skills of
young peer leaders.
When young health champions are established in
further education contexts they are able to offer
peer support to participants on sport for mental
health and wellbeing programmes. They do this by
building a rapport with other young people,
supporting their needs, taking part in and
delivering sport and physical activity sessions and
signposting to other support services.
Networks and Partnerships
The StreetGames programmes demonstrated the
importance of being able to operate within a wider
network of partners for supporting students and
enhancing their mental health and wellbeing
through sport and physical activity. The Get Active
Team engaged in a StreetGames facilitated Action
Learning Set which provided the opportunity for
projects to develop a community of practice by
sharing experiences, discussing challenges and
potential solutions as well as setting standards and
good practice in programme design, delivery and
evaluation of sport for mental health and
wellbeing. The Get Active Team operates within
the Student Life Team and works in partnership
with college welfare, counselling, and Student
Union organisations. In addition, Leeds City
College work with the local council and sit on the
Leeds Sport Board to improve physical inactivity
across the city.
Contact Details
Kate Roberts, Leeds City College
Cross Case Studies
StreetGames Case Study
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Further Education
Enriching the Student Experience through
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Safe, Fit and Well pilot projects deliver
doorstep sport to enhance young peoples’ mental
health and wellbeing in the communities in which
they live. Organisational knowledge exchange,
workforce mental health training and peer-to-peer
learning and support characterise the Safe, Fit and
Well programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with project leaders and participants at
two pilot projects; Active Body, Active Mind (Leeds
City College) and Tyne Metropolitan College based
just outside Newcastle upon Tyne. They represent
Active Learning Environments (ALE) in which sport
is designed, delivered and evaluated to improve
the mental health and wellbeing of students and
to enrich their experience in the further education
setting.
Reaching & Engaging Students
Reports by the Association of Colleges (2015) and
the NUS (2017) indicated rising numbers of mental
health issues amongst students in further
education. In the ALEs sport, education and
welfare leads engage students in sport. Sport is
recognised in these settings for its potential to
improve low-levels of mental health and wellbeing
by reducing stress, depression, anxiety and
addressing substance misuse.
Engagement occurred through established
counselling referral systems which identified
tailored physical activity and wellbeing
programmes to individuals and groups. A range of
physical activities were on offer including
dodgeball, golf, boccia, basketball, volleyball and
gym-based fitness classes. It was also possible to
include sport for mental health and wellbeing in
the curriculum of some courses where students
with mental health and wellbeing issues were
identified and there was tutor support. Both word
of mouth and peer-to-peer recruitment
mechanisms supported the referral process
although issues of stigma created some barriers to
participant engagement.
Active Learning for Mental Health and
Wellbeing
Stigma surrounding mental health has been found
to be a main barrier to youth seeking support.
Central to the success of ALE pilot projects was
addressing this stigma as well as some negative
perceptions of traditional competitive sport.
Mental health stigma can serve as a barrier for
some students to engage in traditional counselling
services and for some, sport activities provided
opportunities to develop confidence and
experience positive emotions. Free gym passes
and weekly one-to-one fitness sessions were
offered to individuals that were identified as more
likely to engage in physical activity and accrue
mental health and wellbeing benefits than mental
health counselling.
For some students the term ‘sport’ presents a
negative image of high skill and intense
competition. Exercise or physical activity or dance,
movement and activity are more likely to create a
positive perception of the activities on offer.
Females were specifically identified as viewing
sport negatively, as such, a female-only ‘wellbeing’
programmes were identified as important. These
blended physical activity such as fitness classes,
gym circuits and non-competitive sports with
classroom-based activities involving discussions on
wellbeing and healthy living.
Sport or physical activity was promoted for
building confidence, teamwork, communication
and independence. Framed in this way, sport was
seen by leaders and participants to have potential
in reducing depression, anxiety and stress in
students and for encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
qualification was specifically highlighted as for
providing staff with knowledge, skills and
confidence to deliver sports sessions to young
people with mental health and wellbeing issues. In
addition, the development of qualified experts in
MHFA enabled a stronger connection to college
counselling service and appropriate referrals of
young people onto the ‘sports’ programmes.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
college peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern
Through the Safe, Fit and Well programme, a small
group of students from both Active Learning
Environment pilot projects attended a four-day
residential at Brathay Hall in the Lake District
where they were awarded the Royal Society for
Public Health Level 2 Young Health Champions
qualification. The accredited qualification was
significant for the development of peer-to-peer
learning strategies in Active Learning
Environments and for the development of
personal and professional skill of young peer
leaders.
When young health champions are established in
further education contexts they are able to offer
peer support to participants on sport for mental
health and wellbeing programmes. They do this by
building a rapport with other young people,
supporting their needs, taking part in and
delivering sport and physical activity sessions and
signposting to other support services.
Networks and Partnerships
The Safe, Fit and Well programmes demonstrated
the importance of being able to operate within a
wider network of partners for funding and referral
support. Tyne Metropolitan College partnered
with Sport England for funding, and the college
counselling and welfare services and pastoral
tutors for referrals. Leeds City College partnered
with the Leeds College Student Life Team which
included student counselling, welfare, career and
student union for referrals. Leeds City College also
sit on the Leeds Sport Board to help improve
inactivity across the region.
StreetGames Case Study
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Local Authority Leisure
Services
Community Sport, Local Authority
Leisure Services and Supporting the
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young
People The Safe, Fit and Well pilot projects deliver
doorstep sport to enhance young peoples’ mental
health and wellbeing in the communities in which
they live. Organisational knowledge exchange,
workforce mental health training and peer-to-peer
learning and support characterise the Safe, Fit and
Well programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with project leaders, sport deliverers
and participants at two pilot projects that deliver
sport through local authority leisure services.
Positive Futures is managed by the Wirral Sports
Development Unit and Brentwood Fitness In Mind
deliver their programme at the Brentwood Leisure
Centre. Programmes delivered by, or through,
local authority leisure services represent one
context in which sport is designed, delivered and
evaluated to improve the mental health and
wellbeing of young people living in disadvantaged
areas.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Local authorities play a significant role in the
delivery of community sport for young people
from disadvantaged areas through their strategies
for leisure provision and health and wellbeing
services. The sport coach workforce represents a
community asset in the design and delivery of
sport for mental health and wellbeing. Their
knowledge and skill and their direct involvement
with communities living in disadvantage makes
them well placed to reach young people and
engage them in sporting activity to protect and
improve their mental health.
Expert sports practitioners are able to tailor the
sporting offer to the needs of young people facing
mental health issues. Close working relationships
ensured that sports coaches understood the
relationships between young people’s mental
health and their lifestyle behaviours. Successfully
engaging these young people in sporting activity
involved delivering sports selected by young
people themselves, offering one-one support
where required and taking consideration of the
barriers of time, cost and access to facilities.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport and organised exercise was promoted in
community sport and local authority leisure
contexts as a way to develop self-control, change
behaviour, build confidence, encourage social
interaction and increase communication skills for
those taking part. In addition, sport was
considered to be a site for engaging young people
in open discussions about mental health and
wellbeing in order to signpost to support services
or education and employment opportunities.
Framed in this way, sport was seen by leaders and
participants to have potential in reducing social
exclusion, anti-social behaviour, depression,
anxiety and stress in young people from
disadvantaged areas.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact. The Mental Health First Aid
(MHFA) qualification was specifically highlighted as
a way of providing staff with knowledge, skills and
confidence to deliver sports sessions to young
people with mental health and wellbeing issues. In
addition, the development of qualified experts in
MHFA supported the wider impact of the work of
project leaders in developing the education and
skills of participants to enable them to be more
prepared for seeking and gaining employment.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
college peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
Through the Safe, Fit and Well programme, a small
group of young people from Positive Futures and
Brentwood Fitness In Mind attended a four-day
residential at Brathay Hall in the Lake District
where they were awarded the Royal Society for
Public Health Level 2 Young Health Champions
qualification. The accredited qualification was
significant for the development of peer-to-peer
learning strategies in Local Authority Leisure
contexts and for the development of personal and
professional skill of young peer leaders.
Youth volunteers have the opportunity to deliver
sessions to other young people in these contexts.
This provides them with their own opportunities
for improving self-esteem through ‘giving back’ to
the community as well as developing employability
skills. Youth volunteers offer peer support based
on experience, skill and knowledge for those facing
mental health and wellbeing issues and can play a
role in raising awareness about and destigmatising
mental health.
The peer supporters used their role to gain
valuable volunteering experience and highlighted
the benefit of this to their own mental health and
wellbeing (increased self-esteem associated with
‘giving something back to the community’) and
regarded the experience as a significant
enhancement of their CV.
Networks and Partnerships
The local authority Safe, Fit and Well programmes
demonstrated the importance of being able to
operate within a wider network of partners for
funding and referral support. Young people are
referred to Positive Futures from a range of
agencies including Response (substance misuse),
Youth Offending Service, Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Positive Futures
also maintains close links to the Fire Service and
Police & Crime Commissioner for funding and
advice. Brentwood Fitness In Mind is partnered
with the Brentwood Leisure Centre and is often
involved in consultation work with MIND England,
NHS England, local NHS services and Public Health
England where Brentwood Fitness In Mind offer
advice on mental health and wellbeing within the
sports and leisure industry.
StreetGames Case Study
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Voluntary and
Community Sector
The Voluntary Community Sector: Raising
Awareness and Promoting
Understanding of Young Peoples’ Mental
Health
The Safe, Fit and Well pilot projects deliver
doorstep sport to enhance young peoples’ mental
health and wellbeing in the communities in which
they live. Organisational knowledge exchange,
workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support characterise the Safe, Fit and
Well programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with project leaders, sport deliverers
and participants at two pilot projects delivering
sport through charity organisations; Warrington
Wolves Charitable Foundation and, Chapter 1 and
Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA)
located in Salford. They represent the charity
sector which is one context in which sport can be
designed, delivered and evaluated improve the
mental health and wellbeing of young people living
in disadvantaged areas.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Charities play a significant role in meeting the
financial and delivery challenges faced in public
health by providing expert healthcare, conducting
research, raising awareness, supporting clients,
and promoting mental health and wellbeing
organisations. As trusted independent
organisations, charities occupy a key position at
the heart of their communities and are well placed
to reach young people and engage them in sport
activity.
The work of charity organisations in delivery sport
to young people in the Safe, Fit and Well
programme was targeted to particular populations
including young people in further education and
those who were homeless. Partnership work was
central to the charity delivery model and
collaborations with educational organisations,
professional sports teams, local authority leisure
providers and housing / hostel associations
provided support for charity-based experts in
mental health to reach and engage young people
through sport.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport has been identified as having the potential
for developing employability skills and inspiring
young people to achieve their potential. Experts
working in the charity sector viewed sport as
important for building resilience, improving self-
esteem, learning skills to be more independent,
offering a counter activity to anti-social behaviours
and providing opportunities for personal
education and the development of employability
skills.
Sport was also identified by the project leads as a
unique space for young people to discuss their
mental health and wellbeing.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact The Mental Health First Aid
(MHFA) qualification was specifically highlighted as
a way of providing staff with knowledge, skills and
confidence to deliver sports sessions to young
people with mental health and wellbeing issues. In
addition, the development of qualified experts in
MHFA supported the design and development of
sports activities and opportunities for participants
in the projects.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support
Informal processes of peer-to-peer learning and
support were evidence in the Charity Partnership
model. Opportunities for young people to
volunteer and develop their leadership roles in the
work of charity partners led to more formal
knowledge exchange with other peers at a range
of events. The provision of informal opportunities
for peers to discuss mental health through their
participant in sport represented informal
opportunities for peer-to-peer support and
learning.
Networks and Partnerships
These Safe, Fit and Well programmes
demonstrated the importance of being able to
operate within a wider network of partners.
Warrington Wolves partnered with a local FE
College and the mental health charity State of
Mind to deliver the mental health and wellbeing
workshops to young people. Chapter 1 and SAHA
partnered with other housing charities, Not in
Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
organisations, local NHS services and job
recruitment services.
StreetGames Case Study
Sport for Mental health and Wellbeing in Community Sports Clubs
Community Sports Clubs, Young People
and Enhancing Mental Health and
Wellbeing.
The Safe, Fit and Well pilot projects deliver
doorstep sport to enhance young peoples’ mental
health and wellbeing in the communities in which
they live. Organisational knowledge exchange,
workforce mental health training and peer-peer
learning and support characterise the Safe, Fit and
Well programme.
This case study draws on observations and
interviews with the project leader, sport deliverers
and participants of a community boxing club. Pat
Benson Boxing Academy (PBBA) in Birmingham
deliver boxing to enhance young peoples’ mental
health through a dedicated MindFit programme.
Community sports club represent one context in
which sport can be designed, delivered and
evaluated to improve the mental health and
wellbeing of young people living in disadvantaged
areas.
Reaching & Engaging Young People
Boxing, targeted to hard-to-reach young people
facing social isolation, opportunities for criminal
behaviour, few positive role models and living in
disadvantaged areas has been found to provide a
physical and educational environment changing
behaviour, improving self-esteem and building
resilience. Boxing coaches working in community
clubs have the knowledge, skill and experience to
reach young people experiencing mental health
issues and engage them in boxing to enhance their
mental health and wellbeing.
Sport for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sport, tailored to enhancing mental health and
wellbeing is being recognised as important in
supporting young people in disadvantaged areas.
The use of organised programmes of sport like
boxing including regular weekly sessions of
instruction can provide a sense of meaning and
belonging for young people in their communities.
The opportunity for developing skills in sport is
coupled with increasing confidence, improved
communication and leadership skills, and anger
management. Combining sport skill development
with a sport governing body qualification provides
young people with a sense of achievement.
Workforce Training
Capacity building, including staff training and
knowledge exchange is significant in delivering
successful sport activities for mental health and
wellbeing impact through community sport clubs.
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) qualification
was specifically highlighted as a way of providing
staff with knowledge, skills and confidence to
deliver sports sessions to young people with
mental health and wellbeing issues. In addition,
the development of qualified experts in MHFA
supported partnership work between community
sports clubs and local Young Offending Service
professionals. The Young Offending service were
able to make referrals into the community boxing
club in this Safe, Fit and Well pilot project,
avoiding referral into youth offending facilities.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support
Young people with mental health or wellbeing
issues respond to the encouragement of their
peers who may be in a good position to
understand their needs and causes of concern.
Community sports clubs like PBBA have the
capacity to dedicate their skills, knowledge and
time to supporting young people with mental
health issues. Peer-to-peer support was formalised
in this pilot project through a boxing club Youth
Council to give young people a voice and as a
vehicle to develop leadership and support skills for
young peer mentors.
Networks and Partnerships
The Safe, Fit and Well programmes demonstrated
the importance of being able to operate within a
wider network of partners for funding and referral
support. In order to establish MindFit, PBBA
consulted with Sport Birmingham, England Boxing,
Birmingham Wellbeing Service (council) and MIND
England. PBBA has built a referral pathway with
key organisations, including a local school and
Birmingham’s Youth Offending Service and has
worked with the boxing charity ‘Fight for Peace’
who offered management consultancy for
establishing MindFit.